The Banksia facilities are second to none, featuring advanced technology and a pristine environment. This is evident in our dedicated theatre suite for all our surgical procedures including sterilisations, explorations and orthopaedics. We are dedicated to offering the absolute best service to ensure the best possible outcome. From reconstructive surgery to desexing and general surgery, excellence is the standard we live by because your pet’s health is our priority.
Anaestesia
At the Banksia Grove Veterinary Hospital, we use a range of anaesthetic drugs and design each pets aesthetic based on their own health and needs. Initially, an intravenous catheter is placed in one of your pets veins. This allows for quick and painless administration of the initial anaesthetic drugs, pain killers and other drugs like antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. Once the first dose of anaesthetic is given, a tube is placed into your pet’s airway or trachea and they are attached to a gas anaesthetic machine which delivers oxygen and anaesthetic agent. This form of anaesthesia is considered the safest and quickest to recover from. Your pet will be placed on heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and respiratory monitors, which helps to monitor your pets anaethetic and prevent any complications. During the anaesthetic, the nurses keep a detailed monitoring chart and they then carefully monitor them while they recover in the treatment area cages. There are rarely problems associated with pets undergoing a general anaethetic.
We do all this because we know it is the best standard of care and WE CARE.
Cruciate Ligament Surgery
Surgery like an Arthrotomy, or Joint Surgery, is carried out within the Sterile Theatre suite. That way we can reduce the risk of infection and other factors that might effect the surgery from producing the desired outcome. The risk is reduced by the reduction in traffic flow and possible contamination from within the air flow.
The Banksia Grove Veterinary Hospital has a full array of the latest and most modern surgical instruments and tools to ensure that each patients surgery outcome is maximised. A comprehensive supply of plates and screws, as well as specialised saws, drills, retractors, probes, guides and measuring equipment ensure the best result.
There has been much technological advancement in recent years in the field of animal joint surgery. The Banksia Grove Veterinary Hospital offers a range of surgical options to help in the management of Cruciate Ligament injuries. The selection of the surgical procedure is made on a case by case basis, factoring in the patients breed, age and size.
Desexing
Dogs
If you intend to breed your puppy we will be happy to advise you. Otherwise, we advise that you sterilise your puppy between 5 and 12 months of age. Desexing your puppy will make him or her a better pet, and on average will increase their life span, because:
They will suffer from fewer diseases (prostate disease, mammary cancer, uterine infections).
There will be no unwanted puppies
They will be cleaner
They will become less boisterous
They will be easier to train
They will be less likely to roam, especially if surgery is done early
They will be less aggressive or dominant
There is no reason that your puppy needs to have a litter of pups or a season prior to being desexed. Desexing will not change your puppy’s personality or make them fat.
How will your puppy be desexed?
Sterilisation is done under full general anaesthetic and requires your puppy to be fasted overnight before bringing them into the hospital in the morning. Usually, dogs can be picked up the same evening after surgery. There are rarely problems associated with sterilising dogs. All patients undergoing a general anaethetic are placed on heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and respiratory monitors, which helps manage and prevent the risk. Modern pain relief is provided during the surgery and usually dispensed for the first few days after the surgery.
The surgery is performed in a separate sterile theatre suite to minimise any risk of infection or contamination from other patients. The Vets wear sterile theatre gowns, gloves, hats and masks and the nurses all wear sterile masks and hats. We use individual sterile surgery packs, instruments and drapes for each proceedure. During the surgery, the nurses keep a detailed monitoring chart and they then carefully monitor them while they recover in the treatment area cages.
We do all this because we know it is the best standard of care and WE CARE.
Cats
We strongly advise you to desex your kitten between 5 and 6 months of age. Desexing will make your cat a better pet and will on average increase their life span.
Advantages of desexing include:
Sterilised cats suffer fewer diseases, eg: mammary tumours, uterus infections, prostate disease
No unwanted kittens
Fewer cat fights (Remember that Feline Leukaemia and Feline Aids are spread through cat fights)
Generally, your cat will be cleaner – sterilised male cats are much less likely to urine spray
Sterilised female cats don’t come on heat.
There is no reason for a cat to have a litter of kittens before desexing. Desexing doesn’t make animals put on weight – how much they eat and their exercise level is what controls their weight.
Desexing is generally a day surgery. Your cat is brought to the hospital on the morning of surgery, they are fully assessed for the general anaesthetic and surgery, prior to it being performed, and they usually go home the same evening. All patients undergoing a general anaethetic are placed on heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry and respiratory monitors, which helps manage and prevent the risk. Modern pain relief is provided during the surgery and usually dispensed for the first few days after the surgery.
A male kitten’s surgery is quite short and is performed in the treatment room suite. A female kitten’s surgery is performed in a separate sterile theatre suite to minimise any risk of infection or contamination from other patients. The Vets wear sterile theatre gowns, gloves, hats and masks and the nurses all wear sterile masks and hats. We use individual sterile surgery packs, instruments and drapes for each proceedure. During the surgery, the nurses keep a detailed monitoring chart and they then carefully monitor them while they recover in the treatment area cages.
We do all this because we know it is the best of care and WE CARE.
General Surgery
The Banksia Grove Veterinary Hospital undertakes most surgical procedures that can be done by Vets in General Practice. The surgery is either performed in our busy treatment room, or more advanced procedures are undertaken in the Sterile Theatre.
General Surgery includes procedures like Lumpectomy, Abscess Drainage, Tooth Removals and Suturing of wounds.
Even though this type of surgery is done within the treatment room, they are still done using sterile equipment, sterile gloves, sterile drapes and a proper surgical preparation, in order to reduce the risk of infection and complications.
Orthopaedics
Complicated Surgery like Orthopaedic Surgery is carried out within the sterile theatre suite. That way we can reduce the risk of infection and other factors that might affect the surgery from producing the desired outcome. The risk is reduced by the reduction in traffic flow and possible contamination from within the air flow.
The equipment used and the sterilising techniques of our modern closed door drying autoclave ensure that the patients receive the safest and best of care.
There has been much technological advancement in recent years in the field of animal orthopaedics. The Banksia Grove Veterinary Hospital is at the forefront of orthopaedic surgery in Perth.
Orthopaedic surgeries conducted at the Hospital generally involve Bone fracture repair using Pins, Wire, Plates and Screws.
Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Tests
The main reason we can run a Bloodtest prior to an Anaesthetic is to help us ensure your pet can properly process and eliminate the anaesthetic drugs. The Blood test can assess if the major organs are functioning properly and to look for any hidden health conditions that could put your pet at risk.
The top FOUR reasons to test your pet can be summarised as –
1. Enjoy peace of mind.
2. Detect hidden illness.
3. Reduce risks and consequences.
4. Protect your pet’s future health.
Testing can significantly reduce medical risk. Healthy-looking pets may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. Testing helps detect this kind of illness so we can avoid problems with anaesthesia and start any treatment for illness earlier. If the pre-anaesthetic testing results are normal, we can proceed with confidence. If not, we can alter the anaesthetic procedure or take other precautions to safeguard your pet’s health.
These tests also become part of your pet’s medical record, providing a baseline for future reference.
Reconstruction Surgery
Dr Garry Edgar has a special interest in small animal reconstructive surgery. Sometimes the most complicated looking surgeries are able to be performed, thanks to experience, patience and a bit of skill. Surgeries available at the Banksia Grove Veterinary Hospital include:
Animal bite repair
Skin grafts
Complicated tumour removal and management
Complicated wound management, and more.
If you would like to know more about our surgical surgeries, please contact the Hospital on (08) 9306 2555.
Teeth Cleaning
Once the diseased or rotten teeth have been removed, the healthy teeth that remain are carefully scaled with an ultrasonic scaler. This is just like your dentist’s tooth scaler and it operates by vibrating at a very high frequency to vibrate the tartar off the teeth. Tartar is the calcified plaque that is that brown material you often see stuck to your pet’s teeth, just near the gum. Tartar is also full of bacteria, so it is important that we get it all off. Once the teeth are cleaned, the teeth are also polished with a high-speed polisher just like your own dentist uses. Polishing fills in the tiny grooves left on your teeth from wear and tear and helps to reduce the formation of new plaque and tartar.
Teeth Extractions
Teeth cleaning is performed under a full general anaesthetic. Your pet’s teeth will be probed and assessed for pockets or other hidden signs of dental disease. They might even need some of their teeth xrayed! Once the health of the teeth has been assessed, any seriously diseased teeth are often extracted. Most of your pet’s teeth have multiple roots to help hold them solidly in their jaw, so therefore the teeth often need to be cut out! This is usually done with a specialised dental drill which helps to quickly and accurately divide the teeth and ensure no pieces of roots snap off.
